Sentencing Advisory Council

In 2000, the Victorian Government requested a review of aspects of Victoria's sentencing laws, which was undertaken by Professor Arie Frieberg. The 2002 report arising out of that review, Pathways to Justice, recommended a number of changes to Victoria's sentencing system, including the establishment of a Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council. and was also the Chair of the Tasmanian Sentencing Advisory Council until 2021. == Directors ==

The legislation establishing the Council outlines a number of specific qualifications to be nominated by the Attorney-General of Victoria and then appointed by the Governor of Victoria. Some of the qualifications include the need for a person who is a highly experienced prosecution, a person who is a highly experienced defence lawyer, and others with relevant criminal justice experience. == References from the Attorney-General ==

Over the years, Victoria's Attorney-General has given the Council terms of reference seeking its advice on a range of topics, such as the sentencing of family violence offenders, reforms to restitution and compensation orders and the introduction of a sentencing guidelines council. The council's responses to terms of reference have resulted in changes to maximum penalties for offences and breaches of intervention orders; the abolition of suspended sentences, the introduction of a sentence indication scheme and the addition of hatred and prejudice as a factor in sentencing. == Community education ==

The council hosts an online interactive sentencing simulation known as ‘Virtual You be the Judge’, presenting face-to-face community education sessions for adults, developing and publishing teaching materials and lesson plans, and developing and publishing plain-language guides to sentencing law and practice. == References ==